Come, Follow Me - Jan 28th to Feb 3rd - Matthew 3; Mark 1; Luke 3

Monday – John preaches repentance – Matthew 3:1-12; Mark 1:1-8; Luke 3:2-18

At the time of John the Baptist, many Jews believed that they were going to be saved simply because they were “children of Abraham.”

They didn’t think that there was any connection between their behavior and salvation.

“The mission of John the Baptist was to prepare the hearts of the people to receive the Savior and become more like Him.”

He taught that the people needed to change their behavior to become more like God; this is called “Repentance.” 

 

What is repentance? Being sorry and changing our ways.

How have we been blessed by repentance? Both our own and of others?

 

Tuesday – Jewish leaders send put people to question John – Matthew 3:7; Luke 3:7

Pharisees were a group of people who “prided themselves on strict observance   

of Mosaic Law. They tended to reduce religion to the observance of many ceremonial behaviors.” Sadducees were rich Jewish leaders who didn’t believe in the resurrection.

Both groups sent out men to question John about what he was doing. John told them to repent because “the kingdom of heaven is at hand” as in the Messiah was coming soon.

He told them to give to the needy, be honest and fair, to tell the truth, and not be greedy. 

 

* Why would the Jewish leadership question John? To see if he was claiming to be the Messiah. Because they were afraid of losing their power to him. 

 

Wednesday – John baptized - Matthew 3:6,11; Mark 1:4-5; Luke 3:21

John held the Aaronic priesthood, which gave him the authority to baptize but not the authority to give the gift of the Holy Ghost.

Some of the people who came out to see and hear John “confessed their sins” and were baptized.

When we are baptized, our sins are washed away, but what about children who just became accountable for their actions and Jesus who never sinned?

God forgives our sins many times throughout our lives, but there is another reason why we are baptized.

Baptism is an ordinance, which means it is a physical way that we show we make promises to Jesus and he makes promises to us. 

 

Why does it matter that John had the Aaronic priesthood? He needed to have priesthood keys and authority to baptize. 

 

Thursday – Jesus is baptized – Matthew 3:13-16; Luke 3:21; Mark 1:9

Jesus went to John to be baptized because John was the only one who had the priesthood authority and keys to baptize at that time.

Jesus wasn’t baptized because he needed his sins forgiven; he was baptized because baptism is an ordinance that is necessary for salvation.

John was hesitant to baptize Jesus because he felt himself unworthy.

John recognized his duty to the Savior and baptized Jesus by fully immersing him in the water and then bringing him out again. 

 

Why was Jesus baptized if he was sinless? Because baptism is a commandment

 

Friday – The Dove – Matthew 3:16-17; Mark 1:10-11; Luke 3:22

When Jesus came out of the water after being baptized “the heavens were opened unto him, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove, and lighting upon him.”

This was a sign to John the Baptist that the man he had just baptized was the Messiah that they were waiting for.

There was also a voice from heaven that said, “This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.”

Some religions believe that there is only one God, that Heavenly Father, Jesus Christ and the Holy Ghost are all one being without a body.

Instances such as this one are an example of there being 3 distinct beings in the Godhead, Jesus as a mortal in the water, the Holy Ghost appearing as a dove and Heavenly Father speaking from heaven. 

 

What other times did Heavenly Father say, “This is my beloved Son”?

What did these things happen? To testify of Jesus to the people, John and Jesus himself.